cultural differences between the united states and saudi arabia
TRANSCRIPT
SAUDI ARABIA
Cultural Differences of
MOTAZ HAJAJ &Charis Intercultural Training
Culture as an IcebergMany cultural differences are obvious, while others are rooted deeply within.
SEX ROLES
MUSIC & ART GIFT GIVING
BUSINESS PRACTICES
GESTURES
LANGUAGE
DRESS
FOOD & DININGPERSONAL SPACE
HOLIDAYS
COMMUNICATION STYLES
INTERPERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS
TIME ORIENTATION
ASSUMPTIONS & ATTITUDES DECISION-MAKING METHODS
PERCEPTION OF SOCIETAL LAWS
LEARNING STYLES
VALUES, BELIEFS & NORMS
HIGH CONTEXT VS.
LOW CONTEXTCommunication Styles
High Context Low Context
Different levels of rank or position are respected at a meeting, with junior employees rarely speaking up
Negative feedback can be quite direct
Resources such as a help desk or internet browser are the first place to go to have a question answered
Business plans are introduced with market research, rational logic, or facts to interest the listener
Everyone at a meeting is expected to contribute by speaking up, regardless of status, gender or seniority
Before a mid-level manager can commit, he must go through many layers of gaining permission, approvals and building consensus.
When a person wants to say “no” to refuse work or decline an invitation, but feels it will hurt the relationship, he can say “yes,” “I’ll try,” suggest an alternative or remain silent
High Context
Taking the time to get to know someone allows effective communication.
Overt conflict is avoided.
When you have spoken the word,it reigns over you.
When it is unspoken,you reign over it.
Saudi Proverb
MONOCHRONICVS.
POLYCHRONICAttitudes Toward Time
Monochronic Polychronic
For an 8:00 meeting, they arrive at 7:55 and wait for others to arrive
Family and friends are asked to use their influence to find jobs
Meetings and business lunches do not have fixed beginning or ending times
Decisions take a long time, but that doesn’t cause impatience because the stakeholders have a very long term view.
When interrupted, they stop what they are doing to help the person right away
When interrupted, they check the time and schedule a time to talk later
When they know they can’t make the deadline, they give their boss as much notice as possible.
When they can’t meet a deadline, they work long hours and may not finish on time.
People extend themselves to do favors, pay for things or help a person because they believe it will increase their network.
To show their integrity when borrowing something or receiving a favor, the item is returned as soon as possible.
INDIVIDUALISMVS.
COLLECTIVISMView of Identity
Collectivism- Family Comes First
The importance of relationships in Saudi Arabia cannot be overstated.
Belonging to a group (or tribe) is a matter of economic and social survival.
Loyalty to family takes precedence over personal needs.
POWERDISTANCE
View of Authority
Power & Hierarchy
Most of the Arab world has:• An unequal distribution
of power• A low degree of
disagreement with authority
• Class differentiation based on position
• A tendency for autocratic decision-making
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Motaz HajajChess Tag
United States
Marian Stetson-RodriguezCharis Intercultural Training
@motazhajaj
THANKYOU
Information in this presentation is based on Edward T. Hall’s Key Cultural Factors